Epilogue - To Live

I walked away that summer
With the world stretch out before
I had so much already
But I wanted so much more
But in this world of fears
I was so naive
I walked into their arms and lost it all

Now I long for home

Fog glanced at Titania as Rayden disappeared into the temple. "Now what?"

Titania stared after him almost wistfully and sighed. "Now it's up to him," she said, turning her back on the temple.

"Did you know it would happen like this?" Fog asked.

"I knew enough," she replied, moving towards the edge of the cliff.

"Did you know you would fall in love?" he called after her.

She stopped and was silent for a long moment. "To look into your own future is to invite madness," she said at last, continuing onward. He wondered if she spoke from personal experience.

Fog stepped up beside her, looking out over the forested land. It was early morning and the trees were a cheerful green-gold. "Now what?" he repeated. "I mean, for us?" he added when she arched an eyebrow at him.

"Us?" Her tone was amused. "You're free."

"I swore allegiance," Fog said, expression seriously.

"Yes," she inclined her head in a half nod. "And now you're free. Where I'm going, you cannot follow."

He blinked and stared at her. "You're not staying?"

She didn't seem to hear him, her gaze fixed intently on the trees, the sun, the sky. "Yes," she murmured to herself. "I will remember you like this. Full of warmth and life and promise. And hope."

She held out her hand and the red dimensional gem appeared in her palm. With a flick of her wrist and a shower of glitter, it came to life, opening a portal beside her. Fog took a half step forward. "Wait! What should I do now?"

She looked back at him, her eyes an inky black from the magic. An otherworldly breeze blew from the portal, making her silver hair dance in the sunlight. She smiled at him and though he did not see her lips move he heard the words clearly.

"Live," her voice whispered to him. She stepped through the portal and was gone. "You should live."

Rayden emerged from the temple feeling only slightly better than when he'd entered. An encounter with the Elder Gods was always exhausting, but at least they had listened.

Shao Kahn's work in Earthrealm would be undone. As punishment, the lives of all those he had murdered in his crazed rampage would be restored. With two notable exceptions.

As Rayden's punishment for the foolishness and neglect that let the situation get so out of hand, the Elder Gods would restore Kung Lao's life, but only Kung Lao's life. Siro and Taja, far less important than the Champion, would pay the price for Rayden forgetting his duties.

He moved to the edge of the cliff and stared out at the beautiful world that was once again miraculously safe. He owed Titania his gratitude, and an apology. Where was Titania?

Something glittered at the corner of his vision and he looked up. A crystal wafted through the air, drifting towards him. As it neared, he saw that it was as transparent and fragile as a bubble. Indeed, as it touched his hand, it vanished in a sparkle of light. The light grew, flowing around him and rifling through his clothes and hair with warm fingers.

It was Titania, all around him and with him and through him. There were no words, but he didn't need them. He knew what the light was saying to him.

It said I'm sorry and Please forgive me and I love you. Above all else, I love you.

Then it was gone and he was alone, and he knew that it had said one other thing as well.

Goodbye.

Rayden turned his face away from the joyful sun. He was alone.

He clenched his fists, then forced them to relax. In the city, Kung Lao would be waking up. Rayden would have to explain to him why he, too, was alone.

It was over.

It was beginning again.

It was Life.

I forgive you.
Freely and fully,
without coercion or reservation.
For what you did willingly,
for what you did unwillingly,
for what you watched and didn't stop,
for what you saw and couldn't stop.
For knowledge, thought, word, deed and intention.
And this do I swear,
friendship and faith between me and mine
and thee and thine forever.
This I do swear.